Posts from — August 2007

Elegy for the Summer of Love

In the ’60s, Alain Dister took his camera and long hair hitchhiking across the country to capture communes and clinics in the age of psychadelica.

“When I first took some pictures in America, during the summer of 1966, I had no proper photographic education. After spending some time in Madagascar, I had bought an SLR Canon camera on my way back, with the intention of shooting landscapes. I was still drawing and painting, probably thinking I would photograph what I couldn’t paint. When I landed in New York, I tried to focus more on people. The street action in the Village blew my mind. It was the beginning of [Read more →]

Comet Skateboard

San Francisco based Comet Skateboards uses poplar and hickory from sustainable forests for the board’s core, topped with bamboo or maple veneer and coated with water-based paints.

In the works: Comet is working with manufacturers and universities worldwide to help develop ‘green’ epoxies, reinforcements and coatings. The boards are designed and manufactured in the world’s only solar-powered skateboard factory, which is located in downtown San Francisco. The company is committed to manufacturing locally (still made here!) and sources supplies locally whenever possible.

Of course, a green aura isn’t enough to convince buyers of other board brands, which is why Comet also builds boards that are stronger and lighter than most.

www.cometskateboards.com

[youtube DBFHplgSLlg nolink]

Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Fair:
Hands-on, family-oriented event to educate people of all ages about sustainable living practices at the New Belgium Brewery with speakers, 150 exhibitors, a beer garden, and more.
September 15 - 16
Fort Collins, CO
sustainablelivingassociation.org

West Coast Green:
Residential building conference & expo. Speakers include: Erin Brokovich, Ed Begley, Jr., and San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom.
September 20 - 22
San Francisco, CA
westcoastgreen.org

Sustainable Brands ‘07:
Join industry experts for two information-packed days this September: learn how to navigate this new brand landscape and develop your own sustainable brand story.
Sept 26-28
New Orleans, LA
sustainablebrands07.com [Read more →]

If there is a perfect food, I’d have to guess it would be the golden banana. Providing an instant energy boost, bananas contain fiber, plus three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose.

The true origin of Bananas, world’s most popular fruit, is found in the region of Malaysia. Bananas traveled from there to India where they are mentioned in the Buddhist Pali writings dating back to the 6th century BCE. In his campaign in India in 327 BCE, Alexander the Great relished his first taste of the banana, an unusual fruit he saw growing on tall trees. He is even credited with bringing the banana from India to the Western world. According to Chinese historian Yang Fu, China was tending plantations of bananas in 200 CE. These bananas grew only in the southern region of China and were considered exotic, rare fruits that never became popular with the Chinese masses until the 20th century.

Eventually, [Read more →]

MIA’s new album, “KALA”

Ok, so the weather outside is frightful…what a fantastic day to pick up M.I.A.’s outrageously lovley new album, “Kala,” plug in and settle into your work station so you can plough through that overflowing inbox of yours with 1000s of emails.

The playful melodies on this summer’s hit “Mango Pickle Down River,” will have you dancing around the office. The London-born Sri Lankan rapper-singer-political artist specializes in a wonderous new kind of world music — a global sound clash complete with a perfect balance of imagination and invention. This song is definitely on ‘repeat’ on the i-pods of hipsters trekking around town this summer; featuring a group of aboriginal kiddie rappers known as the Wilcannia Mob, the song comes complete with a droney didgeridoo that makes for one of the most groovey and unconventional bass lines of 2007! [Read more →]

Come, oh come, yea tea thirsty

Restless ones; the kettle boils,

Bubbles, and sings, musically.

–Rabindranath Tagore (as quoted in Tea: Legend, Life and Livelihood of India)

Tea is such a part of India’s culture, it’s hard to imagine daily life without it. As scientific research continues to establish the beneficial qualities of tea, it’s popularity continues to soar. The history of tea in the country of India is as fascinating as is the tea industry’s important role in the socio-economic life of the people.

Thanks to Tea: Legend, Life and Livelihood of India, the history now comes alive. [Read more →]

Mumbai’s entrepreneurial dreams climb as high as the gleaming skyscrapers that define its skyline. This great city of more than ten million people is the capital of the state of Maharashtra and also the commercial capital of the whole country…center of industry, transportation, and communication, its fine harbor on the Arabian Sea makes its one of the world’s busiest ports. …..”Bombay” to locals, Mumbai is totally a hip place to be — from food, to fashion and a thriving nightlife, this town will keep all your senses on high alert.

Gateway of India

Be sure and visit Colaba, the tourist hub of Mumbai. Colaba starts with the Gateway of India — the landmark of Mumbai. Colaba is the South Mumbai district filled with cafes, bars, and plenty of shops. Chowpatty Beach is a popular beach where many celebrations of festivals such as Coconut Day and the Ganesh Chaturthi immersions take place. On the beach you’ll find statues of India’s freedom fighters, Lokmanya Tilak and Vithalbhai Patel who symbolize the freedom struggle. Chowpatty occupies a special place in the life of Bombay, having been the venue of mass political meetings in the pre-independence era.

In the evening Chowpatty develops a magical atmosphere [Read more →]

Swimming is such a splendid form of exercise and so perfectly adapted to summer that the increase in swimming pools in all communities is to be welcomed.

But Chlorine used to disinfect swimming pools is a health hazard and may trigger asthma in children. Among adults it has been linked with other health problems including bladder and rectal cancer and may increase the risk for coronary heart disease. [Read more →]

The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama

Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) Hosts The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama
Exhibition runs through September 3, 2007

One of my favorite museums in NYC is running a fantastic exhibition currently. The Rubin Museum of Art is hosting The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama, an exhibition that reflects artists’ interpretations of the Dalai Lama. A popular, beloved figure, the Dalai Lama has evolved to represent a range of different meanings. This exhibition explores the Dalai Lama’s multiple roles and iconic status, and how his work and identity resonate with people everywhere. [Read more →]

One Year Countdown to Beijing Olympic Games

The Chinese capital of Beijing is adopting eco-friendly technologies in transportation, power supply, water and waste management to ensure a “green” Olympic Games, according to the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

Beijing plans to use 100 hybrid-electric vehicles as public buses at all venues and several hundred electric vehicles will serve in the logistics departments of the Olympic Village and all stadiums while electric bicycles will be provided in the main Olympic area, according to the press release.

But the project doesn’t stop there; [Read more →]